Muslims Urged to Read
News with Critical Eye
Anaheim,
CA: The Shura Council of Southern California, upon learning
from the press that Saudi Arabia wishes to support Sunnis
against Shi'is if the United States decides to leave Iraq,
wrote to the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to express its concern
and to seek a verification of such reports.
The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Prince Turki Al Faisal,
in his response, received by the Shura Council office, recorded
his Government's position as follows:
That, "the Kingdom has always reaffirmed the importance
of strengthening Iraq's unity, respecting its independence
and sovereignty, and refraining from interfering in Iraq's
internal affairs. Saudi Arabia holds the position that all
initiatives affecting the future of Iraq must come from
within, and they must reflect the free and independent will
of all the Iraq people."
He further added, "The Kingdom seeks unity in Iraq,
not a continuation of the sectarian violence that has brought
so much bloodshed to that noble country."
"Sunnis and Shi'is have lived in Iraq peacefully for
centuries. The tragic situation in Iraq today is more of
political perversion rather than religious sectarianism,"
said Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Shura Council,
a federation of Mosques and Muslim organizations in Southern
California that includes people of all schools of thought
from its very inception.
The Shura Council reminds Muslims of the Qur'anic mandate
for sanctity of life and imperative for unity that transcends
all schools of thought and ethnicities. Muslims are encouraged
to read news with a critical eye and objective mind. It
is important to defeat all forces of animosity that seek
to foster hate and bigotry among Muslims.
The Shura Council recognizes the three-day Doha Conference
for Dialog of Islamic Schools of Thought where people of
various backgrounds reaffirmed their commitment toward universal
brotherhood and sisterhood. Muslims in Southern California
are encouraged to exchange visits and build lasting friendships
and relationships across schools of thought and ethnicities.
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